Jonty is one of the greats says Bryden

Leading South African cricketer writer Colin Bryden has named Jonty Rhodes as his choice as the greatest ODI cricketer of all time for his contribution in raising fielding standards in the sport.

"His batting average of 35.11 was good, as was his batting strike rate of 81.05, but what made Jonty Rhodes an exceptional one-day international cricketer was his acrobatic fielding," said Bryden.

"In the heady days of South Africa's first World Cup campaign in 1992 it was Rhodes who captured the imagination of crowds in Australia and New Zealand, as well as the television public in South Africa.

"The batting of Peter Kirsten ? Rhodes' boyhood hero ? and the bowling of Allan Donald was important but it was South Africa's fielding that was the key aspect of their advance to the semi-finals after 21 years of political isolation.

"No single moment was more thrilling than his perpendicular dive into the stumps to run out Inzamam-ul-Haq to transform a match in Brisbane which seemed to be going Pakistan's way.

"If a mark of greatness is memorability, Rhodes achieved it. More than five years after he retired, outstanding fielders are compared to him."